Apparatus for the concentration of vinegar and acetic acid.



E. KLEIN. APPARATUS FOR THE CONCENTRATION OF VINEGAR AND ACETlC ACID.APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1916 1,291,025 v Patented Jan. 14,1919.

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APPARATUS FOR THE CONCENTRATION OF VINECAR AND ACETIC ACID.

APPLICATION man MAY 24. 1915.

1,291,025. Patentd Jan. 14, 191$).

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UN STATES PATENT ERWIN KLEIN, OF PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THEFLEISCHMANN COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONCENTRATION OF VINEGAR AND ACETIC ACID.

Application filed May 24, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERWIN KLEIN, a subject of the King of Hungary,residing at Peekskill, in the county of Westchester and State of NewYork, have invented certain 4 new and useful Improvements in Apparatusfor the Concentration of Vinegar and Acetic Acid, of which the following1s a spec1fication.

My invention is a new and useful apparatus to be used for carrylng outa, process for the concentration of vinegar and acetic acid wherein thevinegar or acetic acid is dehydrated by treating the same with awaterbinding or eliminating substance so that the water/may be removedand all the essential components of the vinegar or a'cetic acld may,without undergoing any chemical alteration or .change, be concentratedto any desired degree, said process being the invention of Dr. AloisZeckendorf and Martin Nilsson, for which they have filed application forLetters Patent of the United States under date of March 28, 1916, SerialNo. 87150.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and the noveltyof which will beparticularly pointed out and distinctly claimed. I have fully andclearly illustrated one embodiment of my invention in the accompanyingdrawings to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a, plan view of the apparatus, and

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, partially diagrammatic, and insection, showing the interior arrangement of the apparatus and thecourse of the materials du ing the practice of the process.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates eachof a series of receptacles, vessels, or chambers preferably arranged incircular series around a central point, and which may be designated asdehydrators. Each of the vessels or chambers is provided at a pointintermediate its upper and lower ends with an open shelf or grid 2adapted to receive and support the water binding substance shown at 3,which may be, for example, calcium chlorid. It will be understood thatthe capacity of these receptacles is such as may be desired, or may berequired by the extent of the operations to be carried out, and thequantity of material to Specification of Letters Patent.

ling valves 20.

Patented J an. 14, 1%19. Serial No. 99,524.

be treated. Each vessel is provided at its upper end with a manhole 4,closed by a suitable cap 5 in order that access may be had to theinterior of the vessel for any desired purpose. 1

Entering the top of each vessel and terminating adjacent the lowerportion thereof at a point below the grid 2 is an inlet or feedpipe 6,which pipes connect at the upper ends thereof to a continuous, circularvapor line 7 arranged above the said vessels, as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawin s. The flow between the vapor line or pipe r, and the pipes 6 is,in each instance, controlled by a hand valve 8, whereby any one of thevessels 1 may be placed in communication with, or isolated from, thevapor line by way of the pipes 6. Preferably arranged above the vaporline 7 is a feed or supply-pipe 9 which is con nected at one end to areceptacle 10 adapted to contain the vinegar or acetic acid to betreated,'or a mixture of the same with a water binding substanqe; Thissupply-pipe 9 is connected by a series of branch pipes 11, controlled byvalves 12 with the said pipe 7, the point of connection of each branchpipe being between adjacent receptacles 1, respectively, as shown inFig. 2. By this arrangement, the vinegar or acetic acid, or the mixturethereof with the'ti'vater binding material, may be fed to anyone or allof the said receptacles. Connected to the upper portion of each of thedehydrating vessels 1 is an outflow pipe 13, theupper end of which opensinto the said vapor line 7, as shown at 14. Each of these pipes 13 iscontrolled by a hand valve 15 by means of which communication isestablished or cut off between the dehydrator receptacles or vessels,and the said pipe 7.

At points opposite or adjacent to each of the connections 14 the vaporline or pipe 7 is connected by a pipe 16 to a condenser 17, preferablyarranged concentrically of the series of tanks. as shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. Each pipe 16 is provided with a hand valve 18 forcontrolling flow therethrough. The vapor line 7 at points between thepipes 6 and the pipes 13, is provided with controlling valves 19. andbetween pipes 13 and the pipes 11 with controly this arrangement thevapors flowing from a vessel or chamber 1, as will be hereinafterdescribed, may be caused to flow to the condenser 17 through her 1, asshown at the left and center the pipe 16, as shown at the right hand ofFig. 1, or may be caused to flow into the vapor line 7 and thence bedirected to and through another dehydrating vessel or chamof Fig. 2. \Vepreferably provide each of the outlet-pipes 13 with a jacket 21, toreceive a current of cooling liquid to provide a reflux condenser inorder to assist in condensing the vapors flowing through the pipes 13,and provide for the proper and complete condensation and concentrationof the material, in case it is desired that all the vapors be returnedback into the still.

The receptacles or chambers 1 are provided with drain-pipes 22, by meansof which the contents of the chambers may be drained ofi, said pipes 22having valves 23, and being connected to a common drainpipe 2-1.

By the construction and arrangement above described it will be apparentthat any one, or all, or any intermediate number of these dehydratingtanks may be employed, either to treat the material and discharge itdirectly into the central condenser 17, or to discharge the vapors fromone tank to the other in order to obtain the desired degree ofconcentration.

The operation of the above-described apparatus is as follows:

A mixture of the vinegar or acetic acid with the water binding material,for instance, calcium chlorid, may be made or placed in the feed orsupply tank 10, and from there fed in any suitable manner, s by gravity,to the pipe 9. The pipe 9 being charged, anyone or more of the tanks orchambers 1 may be fed with the mixture by opening the controlling valves12, so that the mixture flows into the pipe 7 and through any one ormore of the pipes 6 into the bottom portion of the dehydrating tanks orchambers. By way of example, the mixture may be fed into the chamber 1,shown at the left hand of Fig. 2. This mixture of the vinegar or aceticacid with the water binding substance will-result in the removal of atleast a portion of the water, which will be taken up by said substance.

By heating the vessels or chambers 1 in any suitable manner, not shown,until the acetic acid or vinegar is evaporated, the vapors formed flowup through the grid and the body of calcium chlorid 3 so that by contacta further quantity of water is withdrawn by the water binding substance,and the vapors of the acetic acid pass up through the pipe 13 into thevapor line 7. During this operation it will be understood that the valve19 is closed. The main part of the dehydration is efi'ected by themixing before heating by the action of the water binding substance, theresult being that instead of driving 01f the water, which, underordinary conditions, would have the lower boiling point, it is kept backby its combination with the water binding substance, and the vaporsricher in acetic acid are distilled. If it is desired that the vaporspass to the central condenser 17, the valve 20 is also closed and thevalve 18 opened so that thevapors find access to the pipe 16. If it isdesired to further concentrate the vinegar beyond the concentrationperformed in the first tank 1, the valve 18 is closed and the valve 20opened so that the vapors flow into the pipe 7 and then down through thepipe 6 leading into the next dehydrating vessel, Where they may passthrough the body of the mixture of the vinegar or acetic acid, if any bepresent, in the bottom portion of the vessel, andby the distillationaction the vapor is again driven up through the body of the calciumchlorid in the second tank. If no mixture be present in the second tank,then the vapors pass up through the body of material 3, to be furtherdehydrated. These vapors then pass up through the outlet pipe 13 and maybe directed through the pipe 16 to the central condenser, or, if furtherconcentration is desired, directed into the next following tank in themanner just described. By thus treating the vinegar or acetic acid tosuccessive charges or bodies of the water binding material it is toproduce any desired degree of concentration. This sequence of subjectingto different charges may continue throughout the whole series of tanks,if desired, the vapor from the final tank being directed through thepipe 16 from that tank into the central condenser 17. During thisoperation a portion of the water is removed from the vinegar or aceticacid by mixing the same with the water binding material, in the tank 10,as above stated, the water binding material carrying part of the waterbeing physically mixed with the vinegar or acetic acid. \Vhen thismixture is distilled in the dehydrating vessels, the vinegar or aceticacid deprived of part of its water is vaporized and passes up throughthe overlying body 3 of water binding material, so that the latterabsorbs a further quantity of water and the concentrated vinegar oracetic acid vapors on to the outlet pipe in a greater state ofconcentration.

In the operation described the vinegar or acetic acid is treated both bydirect contact in a fluid state with the water binding substance, byreason of the mixture, and also by direct contact thereof in the stateof vapor with the water binding substance in the dehydrating tank.

By this operation a high degree of concentration is obtained. It is alsopossible to carry on the operation without preliminary mixture of thewater binding substance therewith, in which case the vinegar or aceticacid may be distilled in the dehydrating chamber or tank so that thevapors pass up throu the water binding substance, whereby t e water, ora portion thereof, is removed from the vapor, and the concentratedvinegar or acetic acid vapors are permitted to ass on out of the chamberto the next cham or to the condenser 15. The distillation may be carriedon in the first dehydrating tank, or that one which is initiallycharged, until the temperature, and samples taken from the bottom bymeans of a test or try-cock show that practically-all the acid has beenremoved. from the charge, whereupon this tank may be cut out or.eliminated from the series by proper manipulation of the valves and thechar renewed or replenished. The next tank mthe series can then be usedas the starting tank, and an additional portion of the water bindingsubstance and vinegar or acetic acid admitted.

When the operation is carried out by pouring or filtering the vinegar oracetic acid through the body of the water binding material, the vinegaror acetic acid may be poured into the dehydrating tank through themanhole 4, and then the evaporation carried on as above stood that avacuum may be employed during the dehydration in order to facilitate theoperation.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let- I ters Patent of the UnitedStates is said chambers,

An apparatus adapted for the concentration of vinegar and acetic acid(:ompris.

ing a chamber, a feed-pipe for the chamber, an outlet-pipe from thechamber, a pipe communicating with the feed-pipe and the outlet-pipe, avalve in the said pipe between the feed-pipe and the outlet-pipe, acondenser, and a pipe connecting the said pipe communicating with thefeed-pipe and the outlet-pipe t0 the condenser.

2. An apparatus adapted for the concentration of vinegar and acetic acidcomprising a chamber, a feed-pipe for the chamber, an outlet-pipe fromthe chamber, a pipe communicating with-the feed-pipe and theoutlet-pipe,avalvei1i the said pipe between the fced-pipe and theoutlet-pipe, a condenser, a pipe. connecting the said pipe communiiatingwith the feec'l-pipe and the outlet-pipe to the condenser, and a supplypipe connected to said first named pipe on the opposite side of thefeed-pipe from said valve.

3. An apparatus adapted for the concentration of vinegar and acetic acidcomprising a plurality of chambers, feed-pipes for hers. a pipe to whichsaid feed-pipes and outlet-pipesg...are connected, a condenser.connectionsibetween each outlet-pipe and the condenser. and valve meansfor causing the described. It will be under-- outlet-pipes for saidcham-- denser, and valve means for causing the flow from eachoutlet-Fipe to passto the condenser or to one 0 between the feed-pipesand the outlet-pipes.

5. An apparatus adapted-for theconcentration of vinegar and acetic acidcom rising a plurality of chambers, a pipe, eedipes connecting said pipewith said chamrs, outlet pipes connecting the chambers with thefirstmamed pipe, a valve in said pipe between the feed-pipe'and theoutletplpe of each chamber, a valve in said pipe between the outlet-pipeof each chamber and the feed-pipe of the next adjacent chamber, acondenser, a pipe connected to the condenser and to said valves.

6. An apparatus adapted for the concentration of vinegar and acetic acidcom rising a plurality of chambers, a pipe, cedipes connecting said pipewith said chamr, outlet-pipes connecting the chambers with thefirst-named pipe, a valve in said pipe between the feed-pipe and theoutletpipe of each chamber, a valve in said pipe between the outlet pipeof each chamber and the feed-pipe of the next adjacent chamber, acondenser, a pipeconnected to the condenser and to said first-namedpipe. between said valves, and a sup ly-pipe connected to saidfirst-named pipe tween each of said said feed-pipes, and supply-pipesconnected to said first-named pipe sa d first-named pipe betweenlast-named valves and the feed-pipe of the next adjacent chamber.

7. An apparatus adapted forthe concentration of vinegar and acetic acidcom rising a chamber, a grid in the chamber, a iieedipefor the chamberopening into the latter low the grid, an outlet-pipe from the chamber, apipe communicating with the feed-pipe and the outlet-pipe, a valve insaid communicating pipe between the feed-pipe and the outlet-pipe, acondenser and a pipe connecting the said pipe communicating with thefeed-pipe and the outlet-pipe to the ,con-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribin witnesses.

ERWI N KLEIN. Witnesses:

C. G. HEYLMUN, M. E. MCNINCH.

